The President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, has called for sustained support for inclusive agribusiness models, saying they are critical to accelerating Nigeria’s attainment of food security and food sovereignty.
Ibrahim made the call ahead of the Makkah Halal Forum 2026, scheduled to hold from February 14 to 16 at the Makkah Chamber Exhibitions Centre in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The forum, which began in 2024, is expected to bring together global agrifood stakeholders, halal food producers, investors, policymakers, and development partners.
According to him, Nigerian enterprises should actively participate in the forum to understudy emerging trends in the global halal food industry and adapt them to local conditions in order to tap into Africa’s vast market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“I arrived in Medina yesterday and am currently in Riyadh until Thursday before proceeding to Makkah to perform the Umrah and prepare for my participation at the forum,” Ibrahim said. “The array of exhibitors, panelists, cooking competitions and award-winning producers will offer immense opportunities for participants.”
He described the halal food industry as one of the fastest-growing segments of global agrifood systems, with the potential to dominate international markets as the world races towards 2030, the target year for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ibrahim noted that Africa, with its vast unpolluted cultivable and irrigable land, is central to global food security, especially as the world’s population is projected to approach 10 billion by 2050. He added that Africa’s population is expected to exceed one billion by then, with Nigeria accounting for nearly half of that figure.
“Food is universal, and feeding a rapidly growing global population with wholesome and nutritious food is essential for both food security and social stability,” he said.
He also pointed to the Kampala Declaration 2026–2035, which took effect on January 1, 2026, as a major policy framework that could position Africa as a formidable influencer in global agrifood systems—provided all agricultural stakeholders are fully included in its implementation.
While acknowledging the current difficulties faced by Nigerian smallholder farmers and small-scale producers—particularly high input costs and low farm-gate prices—Ibrahim said the Makkah Halal Forum presents a strategic opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s export potential to the global halal market, which he described as the world’s largest emerging off-taker of agrifood products.
“These opportunities can turn today’s challenges in Nigeria’s food system into low-hanging fruits for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction,” he said.
He urged the Nigerian government, development partners and the private sector to pool resources to scale priority commodities and strengthen value chains where Nigeria has clear comparative advantage.
“With the right coordination and investment, Nigeria can cut a niche in the global halal food industry and become a veritable player in feeding the world,” Ibrahim added.
